Leah Vukmir is a Republican

Republican Party (United States)

The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...

 member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 5th District

Wisconsin Senate, District 5

The 5th District of the Wisconsin Senate is located in Southern Wisconsin, and is composed of parts of Milwaukee County, and Waukesha County.-Current elected officials:...

 since 2011. She previously served in the Wisconsin Assembly, representing the 14th District from 2002 through 2011.

Early life, education and career

Vukmir received a Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Science

A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...

 in Nursing from Marquette University

Marquette University

Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...

 in 1980, and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1983 where she specialized in child development and primary care treatment of children. She is a nationally certified pediatric nurse practitioner with over 25 years of nursing and teaching experience at St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. She is a Registered Nurse

Registered nurse

A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...

 and Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Wisconsin legislature

Vukmir was first elected in November 2002, succeeding Scott Walker

Scott Walker (politician)

Scott Kevin Walker is an American Republican politician who began serving as the 45th Governor of Wisconsin on January 3, 2011, after defeating Democratic candidate Tom Barrett, 52 percent to 47 percent in the November 2010 general election...

 (R), who was elected in a special election as Milwaukee County Executive

County executive

A county executive is the head of the executive branch of government in a county. This position is common in the United States.The executive may be an elected or an appointed position...

. She was the ranking member of the Assembly’s Committee on Health and Health Care Reform. She was also a member of the committees on Public Health, Education Reform, Education and Criminal Justice.

Vukmir announced on June 25, 2009 that she was challenging incumbent Democratic State Senator Jim Sullivan

Jim Sullivan (Wisconsin politician)

Jim Sullivan is a former Democratic legislator who served in the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 5th District from 2007 to 2011.-Political campaigns:In 2006, he defeated Senator Thomas G. Reynolds by 2 percent of the vote...

 for the 5th district seat in 2010. On November 2, 2010, Vukmir defeated Sullivan for reelection. She was succeeded in her Assembly seat by fellow Republican Dale Kooyenga.

External links

• Profile, committees and bills at the Wisconsin State Legislature
• Leah Vukmir official campaign site